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Research shows that lifestyle and lack of knowledge are fuelling obesity debate

12 February 2014

Over half of Brits reveal they don’t do any sport - research shows that lifestyle and lack of knowledge are fuelling obesity debate. 

• Two thirds of UK adults don’t track their daily calorie intake 
• 2 in 5 adults don’t factor in calories found in liquids as part of their daily calorie intake
• Over a third of adults never take into account how much energy (calories) they consume

As the country is mulling over the latest diets to shed the pounds, new research commissioned by AB Sugar finds that over half of UK adults (54%) don’t meet basic physical activity guidelines recommended by the NHS* and don’t partake in any sport whatsoever; with less than one in ten (10%) stating they keep fit and play sport regularly. What’s more, two thirds of Brits (67%) don’t track their daily calorie intake, with a quarter of those (26%) admitting it’s because they don’t know how to. A further three in five (60%) say they don’t see tracking their daily calories as important.

With a significant lack of awareness of what Brits are putting into their bodies, half of women (49%) and almost two thirds of men (64%) wrongly guessed or simply stated they didn’t know their recommended daily calorie intake**. More than two in five adults (43%) also reveal they don’t factor in calories found in liquids such as soft drinks and juices, risking underestimating their daily calorie intake.

Crucially, a significant proportion of those questioned rarely or never take into account how much energy in the form of calories they consume in a day versus how much they use up – 22% and 35% respectively, which can potentially lead to over-eating against their recommended daily calorie intake. Significantly, half of UK adults (51%) also have no idea what their Body Mass Index (BMI)*** is, as two in five of those who do know (38%) have a BMI that is deemed unhealthy by the NHS****.

Dr Julian Cooper, Head of Food Science at AB Sugar said: “Our research shows that many people do not understand the simple equation of fuel in, fuel out, highlighting one of the key problems at the heart of the UK obesity epidemic. The truth is that if you consume too many calories, eat and drink too much of any type of food or drink, and then do not burn these excess calories off, you will put on weight. 

“Unfortunately there is no silver bullet to solving the UK obesity crisis. The overwhelming body of scientific evidence points to a range of factors, including the over-consumption of calories and our increasingly sedentary lifestyles. As our research suggests, there is a lack of understanding about recommended calorie intake and physical activity guidelines. It is therefore crucial we help consumers to make informed decisions about what constitutes a healthy, balanced diet and active lifestyle by providing them with information based on facts and science”.

The online survey was conducted by OnePoll amongst 2,000 UK adults 18+ between 16th December 2013 and 23rd December 2013.

*Physical activity guidelines by the NHS recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activities per week.

**The NHS states an average man needs around 2,500 calories a day to maintain his weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000 calories a day. 

***The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height and is calculated by taking your weight in kilograms and dividing it by your height in metres squared (kg/m2).

****According to the NHS, a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. A BMI over 30 is considered obese.

About AB Sugar

AB Sugar is an advanced and sustainable manufacturer and is one of the world’s leading sugar businesses, supplying an ever increasing range of both sugar and non-sugar products.

Employing around 32,000 employees and operating in 10 countries, we produce around 4.5 million tonnes of sugar annually. AB Sugar has moved far beyond sugar by expanding the range of co-products produced, including; animal feed, soil conditioning and landscaping products and electricity.

The Group is also involved in the developing bioethanol industry and in seed coating and enhancement technology. We have a simple, yet powerful vision to be the world’s leading sugar business. This vision recognises aspiration to be international; a recognised leader in the sugar industry and a shared purpose to be more than just a group of businesses by working together to do what is right for their location and market. AB Sugar is a wholly owned subsidiary of international food ingredients and retail group, Associated British Foods plc (ABF).

For more information, visit www.absugar.com

For further information, please call 0207 492 0975 or email press@absugar.com